3 Charged with Threats and Extortion

The prosecutor's office for the Central District filed this morning (Monday) at the Central District Court for indictments against three men accused of widespread extortion. The defendants are Jacob and Haim Maman, 38 and 46 respectively, from Petah Tikva. The third indictment being sought is against David Cohen, 33, from Tel Aviv.

According to the charges, the three ran a loan shark 'business', where they loaned out money to various individuals at exorbitant interest rates. Debts were collected under duress and threats of violence.